HAMBURG, Germany, Sept. 26, 2012 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Evotec AG (EVT.F) (TecDAX) today announced that its research alliance with Boehringer Ingelheim has reached a milestone triggering a payment of EUR 2.5 million to Evotec. The milestone was for the transition of an oncology programme into pre-clinical profiling.

Dr Mario Polywka, Chief Operating Officer of Evotec commented: "This is the seventeenth milestone achieved as part of our alliance with Boehringer Ingelheim and represents an important transition of a compound into pre-clinical profiling. We are pleased the collaborative efforts of teams from Evotec and Boehringer Ingelheim continue to show success in progressing compounds towards the clinic."

ABOUT THE EVOTEC & BOEHRINGER INGELHEIM ALLIANCE

In 2004, Evotec entered into a multi-year, multi-target drug discovery alliance with Boehringer Ingelheim to jointly identify and develop preclinical development candidates for the treatment of various disease areas including CNS, inflammation, cardiometabolic and respiratory diseases. In 2009, the collaboration was extended for an additional four years and the scope expanded to include oncology targets. Under the terms of the agreement, Boehringer Ingelheim has full ownership and global responsibility for clinical development, manufacturing and commercialization of the compounds identified. In return, Evotec receives ongoing research payments and preclinical milestones. Furthermore, the contract provides substantial long-term upside for Evotec through potential payments for successful milestone achievements during clinical development and royalties when new drugs reach the market.

ABOUT EVOTEC AG

Evotec is a drug discovery alliance and development partnership company focused on rapidly progressing innovative product approaches with leading pharmaceutical and biotechnology companies. We operate worldwide providing the highest quality stand-alone and integrated drug discovery solutions, covering all activities from target-to-clinic. The Company has established a unique position by assembling top-class scientific experts and integrating state-of-the-art technologies as well as substantial experience and expertise in key therapeutic areas including neuroscience, pain, metabolic diseases as well as oncology and inflammation. Evotec has long-term discovery alliances with partners including Boehringer Ingelheim, CHDI, Genentech, Janssen Medimmune/AstraZeneca, and Ono Pharmaceutical. In addition, the Company has existing development partnerships and product candidates both in clinical and pre-clinical development. These include partnerships with Boehringer Ingelheim, MedImmune and Andromeda (Teva) in the field of diabetes, and with Roche in the field of Alzheimer's disease. For additional information please go to www.evotec.com.

FORWARD LOOKING STATEMENTS -- Information set forth in this press release contains forward-looking statements, which involve a number of risks and uncertainties. The forward-looking statements contained herein represent the judgement of Evotec as of the date of this report. Such forward-looking statements are neither promises nor guarantees, but are subject to a variety of risks and uncertainties, many of which are beyond our control, and which could cause actual results to differ materially from those contemplated in these forward-looking statements. We expressly disclaim any obligation or undertaking to release publicly any updates or revisions to any such statements to reflect any change in our expectations or any change in events, conditions or circumstances on which any such statement is based.